49 Mr McEwen's submission was that little weight should be given to the draft LEP as it was neither imminent nor certain. He stated that the site was unlikely to be zoned Environmental Housing (Bushland) as it was not based on any sound planning rationale and that the Minister, in considering submissions, would not gazette the LEP with this zoning. He also referred to letters from the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR), which stated that the issue of residential care facilities and council's exemption from SEPP 5 and Seniors Living Policy would be part of a detailed assessment of the draft LEP.
50 Mr O'Gorman Hughes made the contrary submission that the Draft LEP was imminent and certain based on DIPNR's response of 4 June 2004 to the submission of the Draft LEP under s68 of the EPA Act and the decision of Pain J in Novara Crescent Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 403 where her Honour gave significant weight to the draft LEP.
51 I accept Mr McEwen's submission that the draft LEP is neither imminent nor certain and that it should be given little weight. The decision of Pain J was made without the benefit of the DIPNR's letter of 4 June 2004 or the further letters. These clearly indicate that there are a number of issues that need to be addressed before the LEP can be gazetted. This is consistent with the decision of Watts C in Stewart Ross Stevens v Sutherland Shire Council [2004] NSWLEC 405 where at par 61 he states that "SSLEP 2004 is neither certain and imminent and I have given it little weight".
52 In accepting Mr McEwen's submission in relation to the Draft LEP, I reject his submission on the abandonment of the FSR standard. In the absence of any examples where private residential care facilities have been approved or built with a greater FSR the only indication of council's policy intentions is the Draft LEP to which I have given little weight. As stated above there are contradictions inherent in the policy direction for residential care facilities articulated in the draft LEP, particularly the objectives of the Local Housing Zone, the proposed FSR and the single storey height limit. The overlay of these controls appears unworkable. While I accept that the controls relating to residential care facilities require review the ability to achieve the competing objectives of providing sufficient development potential for residential care facilities while fitting into a low density residential zone needs further consideration.
53 In determining the SEPP 1 objection I find that the standard has not been abandoned nor has its underlying purpose become irrelevant. However, there is conflict in achieving the objectives and providing residential care facilities that should be addressed through the plan making processes set out in Part 3 of the Act. I find that the variation from the standard does not satisfy its underlying objectives and the SEPP1 objection is not well founded. On this basis the application must fail.
Removal of trees
54 In relation to the removal of the trees from the site the key considerations are whether the retention and enhancement of existing vegetation has been adequately addressed (cl 30(e)) and whether the proposed development will have a significant adverse affect on rare and endangered flora, fauna and habitat (cl 32(a)) and the protection of bushland vegetation of scenic value (cl 32(d)).
55 In relation to the first consideration the parties agreed that of the 15 trees on the site all the mature trees were to be removed with one juvenile tree being retained. They agreed that some of these trees were significant and worthy of retention. They disagreed on whether this was acceptable. Ms Kilani's opinion was that on a site of this size it should be feasible to retain some of the existing mature trees and that replacement planting did not adequately compensate for the loss of exiting vegetation. Mr Drinnan shared this view. In particular he considered the removal of all of the mature Eucalyptus glyboidia trees and replacement with juvenile specimens to be unacceptable due to the time that it would take for the replacement trees to reach the height and spread of the existing trees which he estimated to be 20 years for the height and 30-40 years for the spread.
56 Mr Taylor held the contrary view. He recognised that it would be desirable to retain some of the existing trees but considered that the replacement trees and other landscaping would more than compensate for their removal. In particular he considered that the regeneration of bushland on the northern boundary of this site would reinstate the periphery of the site and that this area contains some saplings that would be supplemented by endemic species.
57 I find that the retention and enhancement of existing vegetation has not been adequately addressed. While there has been adequate documentation I do not accept that the requirement of this clause is merely that the matter be addressed by the submission of documentation but that this documentation be evaluated and that the removal of significant trees requires justification. I do not accept that compensatory planting is justification for removal of existing trees and I accept that on a site of this size it is not an unreasonable expectation that some existing trees would be retained. I acknowledge that this is difficult to achieve with the bulk, functional requirements for a continuous building and resultant site coverage of the current proposal. However, as stated above a building of this bulk and scale is not envisaged by the FSR control for the zone.
58 As I have already found that the removal of all the mature trees is not justified it is not necessary for me to adjudicate on the second issue of whether the Eucalyptus glyboidia as part of remnant Shale Sandstone Transition Forest are rare or endangered flora that provide a habitat for fauna.
Impact on residential amenity
59 The key area of disagreement between Mr Nash and Mr Ingham was whether the proposal would have an acceptable impact on solar access enjoyed by the adjoining property to the east, 22 Boyd Place. The experts held different opinions on the extent of overshadowing that would occur but both agreed that it would comply with the requirements of Amcord. Despite this compliance, Mr Nash found the overshadowing impact to be unacceptable as it could be improved by a greater setback that could be achieved by a development that complied with the FSR standard.
60 I do not accept that the proposal will have an unacceptable impact. The rooms which face west are bedrooms or bathrooms and the setback that is proposed is greater than that which would be required for a house. The overshadowing impact is not greater than that which would result from a two storey house and is consistent with what is contemplated by the controls.
61 Privacy was also raised as an issue, but Mr Nash and Mr Ingham found this impact to be acceptable.
Access
62 Access issues to the site are twofold. The first issue relates to the uncertain future of Barden Road once the Bypass is opened. In particular, the concern that council may be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the western section of Bardon Road which may only provide access to the site. The issue was resolved through the parties agreement to a condition.
63 The second issue relates to the inability of service and delivery vehicles to access the basement of the building due to the reduced clearance. Mr Anderson was concerned that these vehicles would service the site from Darwin Place. The resident's were concerned about these vehicles and emergency vehicles using Darwin Place and the disturbance and safety impacts of such an arrangement.
64 While I do not consider this to be an unacceptable arrangement due to the volume of traffic that is likely to be generated I accept that it would be preferable if all access were from Bardon Road.
Orders
65 For the above reasons the Orders of the Court are: